How Much, On Average, Do You Spend on Coins Per Year ?
DisneyFan
Posts: 2,394 ✭✭✭✭✭
This Poll is anonymous!!!
Because this is a PCGS Forum. I've often thought of this as being the BIG BOYS table. Of course, with the newer CAC Forum, that's a whole another level of sophistication. Anyway, I know dealers spend huge amounts of money so I'm not asking them except if they do spend money on their own collections. I'm not trying to be nosy; but, I think it would be helpful for everyone here to have a better understanding of our fellow board members. Again, this is an anonymous poll. Feel free NOT to comment.
And yes, I will vote when no one is looking. 
How Much, On Average, Do You Spend on Coins Per Year ?
This is a private poll: no-one will see what you voted for.
3
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You're missing a couple of tiers on the upper end.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
I weighed in with my category but I tend to also do a little selling each year too, so my net out of pocket expenditure on my collection is usually under $1k and the number of pieces I hold steadily shrinks.
For the past few years I’ve been in the $1-2.5k range. About $100/mo is all I can get away with putting aside and sometimes I’ll get birthday or Christmas money that I can add to it.
Once the kids are out and I’m done paying for them (and hopefully my income significantly rises) I have a goal of setting aside $1000/mo…but I’m probably 8-10yrs away from that.
My budget is a combination of what's left over after I pay myself (as my savings target) and paying my expenses, depending upon what's available. If there isn't anything to buy in my primary interest, my budget will probably be $0. I have secondary collections but almost never buy anything for it and no intention of adding new ones.
Most years since 2017, there has been more to buy for my primary interest versus previously, so I've bought most of what's come up for sale but it's not financially significant by US collecting standards. I have also sold some coins on occasion to partially pay for my purchases.
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Might have been a good idea to poll collectors only, although the whole idea is questionable.
As Homer has pointed out.
lol... I'm "small potatoes" compared to some on this forum. Before last Fall, I'd average ~$80/month or about a $1k coin/year. These days, the only people I'm writing $1000+ checks to are my plumber and my landscaper! ... joys of home ownership... :-/
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I know this will garner a couple of LOLs, yet it is a valid point.
peacockcoins
I see the LOLs but I don't understand it. Each of the last two years I've bought an individual coin that puts me into the top bracket by itself, in addition to other coins I've purchased.
But there is definitely a bracket above me, maybe $100k-499k, where plenty of regulars here reside. And another above that.
I currently can't comfortably buy some coins that (for example and because he's a friend) @PeakRarities can buy. And there are multiple coins that came up in the last year that he can't comfortably buy but others can.
How am I in the same bracket as whoever bought this?
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
"I know dealers spend huge amounts of money so I'm not asking them except if they do spend money on their own collections. "
Our local McDonald's pays $12 @ hour x 40 hours x 52 weeks = $25,000 year. So I thought anything over $25,000 is impressive enough without turning this poll into an elitist poll scaring off newbies
I’m a collector only. About $15,000 per year. With markets down so much this year it will be much less.
Casual collector: Morgans & Peace Dollars & 20th Century Type Set. Successful BST transactions with ProofCollection, Morgan13, CoinFinder, CoinHunter4, Bretsan.
Probably in the $2500-5000 range. Factoring in profits from coins I resell, under $500 of this goes toward the collection, including grading fees.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled
It varies greatly depending on the availability of the coins that I need. It is usually easier to find the money than the coins.
Depends upon the year.
This was 2023.
More than I should; and not nearly enough. Both at the same time.
Too much
About $250K, so yeah
Empty Nest Collection
I work at Dairy Queen, and they pay minimum wage. I estimate last year I spent about 400 on coins, and that was basically all my allowed money.
So how can that bowa constrictor or python (whatever the type of snake) move?
As for brackets and levels… that is above my pay grade.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I’m above average and have spent significant sums, but I’m far from the biggest fish.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I don't think it could. A specialist of some sort came out and surgically removed the cooler. It was discovered by a road crew as I remember the story.
In the last 2 years, I think I’ve purchased a more selective grouping of coins, in higher grades and key dates. Did that push me into the next level of collecting? Planning for the future? I’m at a point in my life where I can finally enjoy my passion, and not feel guilty.
I’m enjoying what I own but currently only pick shiny pennies for my Whitman.
This is true... it depends on the year and the circumstances. I used a portion of the check I got from when I separated from my last job to buy gold when it was "only" $2150/oz. Timing is everything and this was on top of my regular coin budget.
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I appreciate the 76 forum members who anonymously participated in this poll..
The fact that 94% of our members spend more than $1,000 per year on coins shows we have some serious collectors here. Of that group, the majority, 59% spend over $5,000. And 36% spend more than $25,000.
I'm sure dealers love having forum members as clients.
I am small time 2500$ per year sometimes a little more (very rarely but it has happened) but try to stay around that amount.
Maybe one day when my home is paid off I will be able to spend 3500$ per year. Will see then what my priorities will be considering health and retirement.
I will never be rich just not going to happen.
That's not an insignificant amount of money! The important thing is to enjoy your coins.
I work in the industry, but I only make a moderate wage, so I have to make my purchases count! Having a decent eye helps and getting the “employee discount” also helps…
I probably spend 5 to 10K a year. The problem for me is that I also collect currency, vintage ingots and antique silver, etc. etc . so I’m constantly “broke”
My YouTube Channel
Lots of factors that come to play here.
Disposable income is huge - and for every person it'll be different. A 15 year old collector working a minimum wage job can't spend much absent special circumstances (an exceptional cherrypicker can rake in a couple thousand in picks a year) whereas a partner at a major law firm could have close to a million+ in disposable income.
Life stages are also important - if you're getting older, and have a whole bunch of cash saved that looks like it's not gonna be needed, maybe you'll spend a little bit to buy that dream coin or two.
And then you get into dealers and hedge funds that deal in the big money stuff - think Rare Coin Wholesalers.
Coin Photographer.
This is like asking how many pints of ice cream do we all consume each year.
...some things are just better left unasked. . .
peacockcoins
Over 6 and under 7 figures per year. Wish I weren’t the middle man, sometimes.
1 mil is the dream
Zero when I was getting bitched at - now as much as I want since the divorce!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
It should have two polls, one for collector and one for dealers.